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Family Guide to Lyon

Hello! I'm Maddie- a native NYer whose Wanderlust has taken her abroad again and again. Having lived in six countries, and visiting others for school, work, leisure, and sport, I've adopted many localities, and am an admirer of a great many more. An avid scholar of language and culture, I hope to keep expanding my travel repertoire, and sharing great stories with the rest of the travel community.
To give you some background on my travels, I spent months each year since childhood in Old Montreal, where part of my family lives. Summers were spent visiting folks in Ft. Lauderdale and L.A. My first big trip outside of the US on my own was to Australia & New Zealand at 12- I caught the bug early! I then moved to Japan where I studied for part of high school & uni. I am very familiar with Japanese cities, Sapporo and Osaka especially. Some of my favourite travel destinations include Goreme, Dubai, Marrakech, and Queenstown. (Plans for 2015 include China & Uganda!)
Nice to meet you!

Lyon is a truly family-friendly city. From its wide local parks to its daredevil outdoor recreation centers; its cooking classes to its sweets shops; its local festivals, shops, menageries, and more; the city invites families of all types (and children of all ages) to come and enjoy it. This guide provides a small sample of what Lyon — the Capital of French puppetry and gem in the crown of the country's foodie culture — has to offer.

Good for

Family

History Buff

Thrill Seeker

Art and Architecture Lover

Nature Lover

Foodie

Thrifty Traveller

Trendsetter

Like a Local

11 Places

3 City Tips

Print

Map

11 Places

Parc de la Tete d'Or

Zoos, Golf Courses, Equestrian Trails, Parks

Zoo de Lyon

Zoos

Aquarium de Lyon

Aquariums

Le Petit Musee de Guignol Fantastique

Speciality Museums

Musee des Automates de Lyon

Speciality Museums

Plum Lyon Teaching Kitchen

Lessons & Workshops, Cooking Classes, Food Tours

Violette & Berlingot

Gift & Speciality Shops

Comics Zone

Gift & Speciality Shops

Parc Blandan

Playgrounds, Gardens, Parks

Theatre du Guignol de Lyon

Theatres

France Aventures Lyon

Theme Parks, Other Fun & Games, Other Outdoor Activities

Parc de la Tete d'Or

Place General Leclerc, 69006, Lyon, France

Zoo de Lyon

Mairie de Lyon, 69205, Lyon, France

Aquarium de Lyon

7 rue Stephane Dechant, 69350, Lyon, France

Le Petit Musee de Guignol Fantastique

6 rue Saint Jean, 69005, Lyon, France

Musee des Automates de Lyon

100 Rue St Georges | Bp 5015, 69005, Lyon, France

Plum Lyon Teaching Kitchen

49 rue des Tables Claudiennes, 69001, Lyon, France

Violette & Berlingot

52 Passage de l Argue, 69002, Lyon, France

Comics Zone

320 rue Garibaldi, 69007, Lyon, France

Parc Blandan

37 rue du Repos, 69007, Lyon, France

Theatre du Guignol de Lyon

2 rue Louis Carrand, 69005, Lyon, France

France Aventures Lyon

Pl du 158e Regiment D Infanterie, 69005, Lyon, France

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Parc de la Tete d'Or

Zoos, Golf Courses, Equestrian Trails, Parks

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Zoo de Lyon

Zoos

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Aquarium de Lyon

Aquariums

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Le Petit Musee de Guignol Fantastique

Speciality Museums

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Musee des Automates de Lyon

Speciality Museums

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Plum Lyon Teaching Kitchen

Lessons & Workshops, Cooking Classes, Food Tours

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Violette & Berlingot

Gift & Speciality Shops

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Comics Zone

Gift & Speciality Shops

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Parc Blandan

Playgrounds, Gardens, Parks

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Theatre du Guignol de Lyon

Theatres

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France Aventures Lyon

Theme Parks, Other Fun & Games, Other Outdoor Activities

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Madison S's City Tips

Greeting staff with "Bonjour" (Good Morning) or "Bonsoir" (Good Evening) is considered common courtesy upon entering a restaurant, shop, or museum.

Only buy metro tickets from a teller machine. If anyone tries to sell you a ticket, be aware that this a scam.

Buying a Lyon Visitor Pass enables you to visit numerous museums for the cost of the pass alone, including the one featured in this guide. You may purchase this pass online.

Parc de la Tete d'Or

Zoos, Golf Courses, Equestrian Trails, Parks

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Madison S Says:

Parc de la Tete d'Or, located on the outskirts of Lyon, is an expansive park and a favorite destination for local families. The tree-lined walks wind around rose gardens and a massive lake, and the grounds boast a small zoo and even a botanic garden along the far side. Great for boating, biking, picnicking, or simply taking a stroll, this green space is a prime destination for families of all ages.

Good for

Must See

Thrifty Traveller

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Art and Architecture Lover

Nature Lover

Tips

The zoo at the Parc, as well as the park grounds themselves, are free to enter.

Rent a boat to take onto the lake as a family. There are various types of boats available.

There are no food stalls on the Parc grounds, but you are welcome to bring along your own refreshments and have a picnic.

The outdoor zoo at Parc de la Tete D'Or is absolutely free to enter. It features giraffes,
monkeys, lemurs, zebras, big cats, and more. Its scenic location and modern layout make it wonderful for a stroll, and families can pass a pleasant couple of hours in the charming company of the zoo's local and exotic wildlife melange.

Good for

Thrifty Traveller

Hidden Gems

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Nature Lover

Tips

The zoo hosts special events, such as Late Nights and a Halloween celebration. Check online at the official website to see if your visit coincides with one of these.

The Aquarium de Lyon is small, but lovely. Tanks here include both freshwater and saltwater sea life, from clown fish and turtles, to piranhas and a tiger shark. Its size makes it easy to fit into a packed day, or to visit when the weather is poor. Children can enjoy the petting pool, where they can touch sea cucumbers and starfish, or the fish-feeding demos that take place daily. You can also pick up a souvenir or a snack while you're here.

Good for

Family

Nature Lover

Tips

The aquarium is free for children under three, and entry prices for children four and over increase with age. A Family Pack deal is also available, which covers entry for two adults and two children.

Almost all ticketing options are cheaper if you buy online ahead of time.

While not all displays are in English, many are, making the Aquarium exhibits easily understood even without knowledge of the French language.

Giugnol puppets are a staple of Lyon's culture, and at this little museum, the tradition is brought to life. Spread across only two rooms, the first features animated puppets in dioramas that light up and move as you pass through, while the basement level features themed puppets that teach visitors about the cultural history of the dolls. Families can enjoy learning about the Guignol, and admire both the artistry and the old world charm of the dolls and their artisan world.

Good for

Hidden Gems

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Art and Architecture Lover

Tips

There is a small entry fee for the museum.

The staff is pleasant and helpful, and know a lot about the dolls. Feel free to ask if you have any questions about the museum!

If you have the Lyon Visitor Pass, it includes free entry to the Guignol Museum. It is listed as the "Petit Musee."

There is an audio guide which includes French, English, Italian, and Japanese. The translations rotate, so you will have to wait for your language to come up, and then go through the museum.

The Musee des Automates is a small and enchanting museum, great for young children. The 250 animatronic dolls, in dioramas that tell stories from literature and Lyon's history, fit into two adjoining rooms, making it an easy stop on the feet, and for children who cannot cope with grueling multi-floor, multi-hour museum trips. The staff help to make the experience bright by providing a child-friendly introduction, and the automated dolls have bright backdrops and don funny expressions and fun costumes.

At Plum Lyon Teaching Kitchen, experience the best of Lyon's famous cuisine culture by making it yourself! The head chef, a master of Lyonnaise cooking, hosts two types of classes: Market classes and Pastry classes. While the Market classes are all-day affairs visiting local Croix Rousse markets and buying fresh ingredients for a multi-course meal (with wine,) the Pastry classes may be more suitable for families, where children can learn to make macarons and profiteroles alongside their parents! While there are no parent-child exclusive classes, the chef gives clear instructions and speaks perfect English, making it easy to follow for children old enough to reach the table top (and yummy enough for anyone to want to eat afterwards!)

Good for

Foodie

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Tips

If you opt for a Market class, they run from 9am-6pm, and include five courses with wine and cheese pairings, and a menu based on what's fresh at the local markets.

The classes fill up quickly, so it is recommended to book a place in advance of your visit to avoid disappointment.

You are given all the recipes to take home after the class is complete, so you can continue to enjoy Lyonnaise food once you get home.

A sweets shop unlike any other, any member of the family with a sweet tooth will find themselves at home here. With a fantastical interior design filled out by retro candies, the shelves at Violette & Berlingot house chocolates, creams, marshmallows, caramels, candied flowers, and more, in neon wrapping and baubles. So much more exciting than the average candy aisle, it's fun to simply wander the vintage-style store and decide on what you'd like to try first!

Good for

Foodie

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Tips

The shop is happy to provide inspiration for occasion gifts, such as weddings and birthdays.

At Comics Zone, one of the only comic book shops in Lyon, the owners' passion for fiction has brought a tremendous selection of books, action figures, posters, and more all together in one place. With a solid collection of both new and used comics and memorabilia, and sections for both English and French editions, this is the spot to pick up a cool collector's item, start a new comic book series, or explore old favorite heroes.

Good for

Trendsetter

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Tips

The shop plays hosts to some major events, such as celebrations on Free Comic Day and Halloween; as well as author and illustrator signings. Ask in store for the latest events.

Parc Blandan is one of Lyon's most modern parks. This former military fort has been transformed into a massive play zone, with climbing walls and ropes, slides, hidden passages, and more. The park grounds, which cover 17 hectares, also boast a large meadow and garden, a wonderful place to relax, picnic, stroll, or even nap.

Good for

Thrifty Traveller

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Family

Art and Architecture Lover

Nature Lover

Tips

The Parc can be most easily reached on public transport via the metro stop Lamothe.

After visiting the Guignol Museum, it might be interesting to see the puppets used for their historic purpose, in a live stage show. This theater is a cultural relic in the district, and even without seeing a show, visitors are welcome to come here to take a peek at the puppets that have performed in its plays since the 1800s, and learn a bit more about their important history. While many theaters across Lyon put on Guignol shows, the Theatre du Guignol provides shows that are interactive and not too difficult to follow.

Good for

Hidden Gems

Solo

Friends

History Buff

Couples

Senior

Family

Art and Architecture Lover

Tips

Check the official program (online) to see which days it will be open for shows.

The shows at Theatre du Guignol are all in French, but can still generally be followed. It is a great tool for children who are learning French.

Arrive early for your show time to get a good seat. Sitting a little further back will allow you to see the entire stage.

At France Adventures Lyon, embrace the wild and take on the landscape. Set up in 'courses' that correspond to skill levels, adults and children are welcome to climb trees, zip line, swing on ropes into nets, skate board, and more. The high-intensity adrenaline rush makes for a memorable afternoon out!

Good for

Solo

Friends

Couples

Thrill Seeker

Family

Nature Lover

Tips

While France Adventures Lyon is meant for all skill levels (starting at novice,) because of the nature of the activities, it is more suitable to families with older children.